Hair cutter and shaver

ABSTRACT

A HAIR CUTTER AND SHAVER HAVING THREE MEMBERS COMPRISING A CASE, A BLADE CARRIER MEMBER PROPORTIONED TO RETRACTABLY NEST WITHIN THE CASE, AND A BLADE HEAD SWIVELABLY HELD IN PLACE BY JAWS EXTENDING FROM THE BLADE RETAINING MEMBER, THE BLADE HEAD HAVING A SINGLE COMB AND CUTTING EDGE AT ONE EDGE, AND A SHAVING EDGE AT THE OTHER, EACH OF THE EDGES BEING OPPOSITELY RETRACTABLE INTO A SAFTIED POSITION WITHIN THE CASE.

R E V m Ls D PM 0 m T .U so R T. A H

Jan; 26, 1971 Original Filed Aug. .8, 1968 .3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.SAMUEL J. POPE/L ATTYS.

1971 s. J. POPEIL HAIR CUTTER AND SHAVER Original FiledAug. 8,1968

3 Sheets-S 8 FIG. 3

F G. II

FIG. 5

VENTOR. SAMUEL J. POPE/L @J/e/z TYs.

Jan. 26, 1971 s. J. POPEIL. 3,557,449

" HAIR CUTTER AND SHAVER Original Filed Aug. 8, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 mwFIG. I6

FIG.20 L

INVENTOR.

SAMUEL J. POPE/L ATTYS.

FIG. 2:

United States Patent Ofice 3,557,449 Patented Jan. 26, 1971 3,557,449HAIR CUTTER AND SHAVER Samuel J. Popeil, Chicago, Ill., assignor toPopell Brothers, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Originalapplication Aug. 8, 1968, Ser. No. 751,300, now Patent No. 3,488,673.Divided and this application Dec. 29, 1969, Ser. No. 1,930

Int. Cl. B26b 19/00, 19/38, 21/12 US. CI. -31 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE This application is a division of application Ser. No.751,300, filed Aug. 8, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,488,673.

The present invention relates to a hair cutter and shaver which can beused for the cutting, thinning and blending, as well as shaping, ofladies and mens hair. Additionally, by simple manipulation, the devicecan be employed for personal shaving including leg, arm, and facialhair.

Various devices have been proposed in the art for hair cutting andshaving as exemplified by US. Pats. 3,183,589 and 3,238,616. Invariablythe structures disclosed are single purpose, and have numerouslimitations from a standpoint of extensive and varied usage. Both of thedevices shown in the aforementioned patents have opposed combs orcutting edges which prevent either a being used as a razor for shavingWithout exposing a dangerous cutting edge. Furthermore, either elongatehandles are required which reduce the controlability in hair cuttingoperations, or the user must expose his hand to the opposed cuttingedge. The compound disadvantages are reduced effectiveness, and limitedusage.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a hair cutter and shaver which admits of accuratecontrol in cutting, blending, shaping, trimming, and shaving the hair. Arelated object, of course, is to provide a hair cutting device which canalso be used as a shaver thereby eliminating the necessity of carryingtwo items when traveling.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a haircutter and shaver which are equally useful to the male and femalemembers of a family, thus further reducing the inventory of hairdressing and shaving devices required in the household.

A more detailed but significant object of the present invention is toprovide a hair cutter and shaver which uses standard blades, highquality stainless steel blades being most effective and, of course,readily available through most outlets in any neighborhood.

A further and also significant object of the present invention iscontained in a hair cutter and shaver which is rendered safe byretracting the razor edge portion within the handle while the haircutting portion with comb guards around the teeth is exposed. Thisobject further assists the user in hair cutting operations since care isnot required to protect the hand holding the handle of the product.

As will be observed from the detailed description of the drawings whichfollows, the invention includes a case having a hollow interior, a bladehead carrier member which retracts and extends into the case, and ablade head with a comb and cutting edge along one side, and a razor edgeon the other side. The blade head is comprised of two plates whichprestressingly engage a standard razor blade for use. According to oneaspect of the invention, one edge of the head serves for shaving and onefor hair cutting. The carrier means safely lock the blade platestogether in operative position, while separately providing forretraction of the shaving edge into the ease rendering the cutter safein use. Another aspect of the invention relates to the positioning ofthe blade, teeth, proportioning and angling of the teeth, and support inthe carrier to achieve easy control of both the trim and thin, and shapeand blend tooth-blade-hair relationships.

Further objects and advantageous as well as a fuller understanding ofthe invention as summarized above will become apparent as the followingdescription of an illustrative embodiment proceeds, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a mans head with the hair being cut above thecollar level illustrating diagrammatically the hand of the operator.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating how the reversed portion ofthe blade head may be employed for shaving the legs.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the principalelements of the cutter and shaver.

FIG. 4 is a composite view taken from the end of the blade head showingthe same in its exploded and assembled relationship reading respectivelyfrom left to right.

FIG. 5 is a plan view in partially broken perspective illustrating howthe blade head is removed from the carrier.

FIG. 6 is a sequential view following FIG. 5 from the same elevationillustrating how the shaving portion is moved toward a recessed saftiedrelationship within the case.

FIG. 7 is a further sequential view of the series shown in FIGS. 5 and 6showing the shaving portion of the blade head completely ensheathedwithin the case.

FIGS. 8 through 11 are partially diagrammatic views taken at atransverse position to the blade head showing how the same may bereversed between the hair cutting edge and the shaving edge of the bladehead.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the upper portion of the cutter and shaverillustrating the position of the blade head when retracted taken fromthe right end of the blade head as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged transverse view of the comb combination with theblade taken along section line 13- 13 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged transverse broken view of the opposite end of theblade head shown in FIG. 13 taken along section line 14-14 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the blade carrier.

FIG. 16 is an end view of the carrier shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a partially exploded, partially sectioned view of the carrierand bottom.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged top view of the carrier corner taken from theposition shown in FIG. 17 with the arrow 18.

FIG. 19 is a top view of the bottom member (the latter being shown infront elevation in FIG. 17).

FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the bottom member in the same scale as FIG.19.

FIG. 21 is a plan view of an alternative form carrier.

The shaver and cutter 10 illustrative of the present invention is shownin its two most common usages in FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIG. 1 it will benoted that the hand 11 of the operator is holding the cutter 10 inposition to shape and blend the lower portion of the neck hair of themale head 12. While it is anticipated that some persons will gainsufiicient dexterity to operate the hair trimming devices on themselves,the complexity of mirror systems and the like required are such that itis anticipated the principal use of the cutter will be by a person otherthan the party whose hair is being styled. It is for this reason thatthe teeth are so shaped and coordinated with the comb portion of theblade head to retard rather than accelerate the shaping and blendingfunction. In using many of the hair cutters of the prior art, a slightslip of the operators hand results in removing a large piece of haircreating an unsightly spot which will not recover by natural growth forone to two weeks. With the coordinated relationship of the blade head,teeth, and blade as well as the case, the cutter 10 conservatively cutsthe hair oftentimes dictating to the user that a few more strokes willbe required to carefully blend the back of the neck in barber shopstyle.

When the cutter 10 has had the blade head reversed, it presents ashaving edge which, as illustrated in FIG. 2, may be used by anindividual to shave the legs 14, or other portions of the body wherehair is to be removed. In addition, of course, the hair beneath thecollar line of a male may also be shaved by reversing the head.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cutter 10 comprises three principalelements, the case enclosed at one end by the case bottom 16 and open atits other end; a blade head assembly including a blade holder plate 21and a blade keeper plate 22. The case 15 is coupled to the blade headassembly 20 by means of the carrier 18 which is an H-shaped assemblythat snap-fittingly retracts within the case 15.

As seen at the right hand portion of FIG. 3, the blade head assembly 20fiankingly engages a standard double edged razor blade 19 which issecured to the blade holder plate 21 in proper alignment by the bladebar 26. A holder lock 24 is provided in axial alignment'with the bladebar 26 and mates with the keeper lock slot 29 when the two blade platesare assembled. The holder lock slot 28 is engaged by the keeper lock 25.The opposed inner faces of the blade holder plate 21 and the bladekeeper plate 22 are proportioned for a snug fit against the blade 19. Aswill be seen particularly in FIG. 3, the upper face of the blade holderplate 1 is curved in part at the shaving edge, presenting a concaveupwardly face, and correspondingly the blade keeper 22 is curved at theopposed portion pre senting a convex downwardly face. The inter-actionof these two curved faces prestresses the blade to assure its alignmentin yieldable relationship not only with the blade bar 26, but with theentire face of the blade holder plate 21. As observed in FIG. 3, andwill be explained in substantial detail hereinafter, the trim and thinteeth 41 are at one edge of the blade holder plate 21. The shape andblend teeth 42 being shorter are at one edge of the blade keeper plate22 and abut the blade edge shoulder 44 of the trim and thin teeth 41-Before proceeding in specific detail to describe the trim and thin andshape and blend teeth in their coordinated relationship with the blade,the other aspect of the invention relating to the reversible head willhelp in understanding the coordinated effect of all structural elements.Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the H-shaped carrier 18has a jaw assembly 30 at one end. A holder jaw 31 and keeper jaw 32comprise the two jaws. The holder jaw 31 has a holder jaw pin 34 whichfits within a recess provided in the holder lock 24. Correspondingly thekeeper jaw 32 has a keeper pin 35 extending therefrom which is receivedby a hole 27 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and thereby the blade head assembly 20is swivelably mounted between the jaw assembly 30. As illustrated theholder pin 34 is larger than the keeper pin 35 which prevents reversingthe blade head assembly 20 in the jaw assembly 30 and consequentlypositively dictates the orientation of the shaving edge and the comb andblade edge of the blade head assembly 30 in the carrier 15.

As will be seen further in FIG. 5, the holder jaw 31 and keeper jaw 32are each supported on holder jaw leg and keeper jaw leg 46 of theH-shaped carrier 18. The cross-bar 48 has an opposed cross-bar rib 49.The purpose of the cross-bar 48 is to yieldably support and spacinglyseparate the holder jaw leg 45 and keeper jaw leg 46 in theircoordinated relationship with the jaw assembly 30. The purpose of thecross-bar rib 49 is to provide smooth sliding support within the carrier15.

As will also be observed by reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, the cross-bar 48terminates in cross-bar lock stops 50 which abut the cross-bar lock stopcarrier shoulder 51 (the latter also shown in FIGS. 17 and 18). A holderrunner leg 42 extends downwardly from the cross-bar 48 and terminates ina holder runner 55, and correspondingly a keeper runner leg 54 extendsdownwardly from the cross-bar 48 and terminates in a keeper runner 56.As observed in FIG. 5, the blade head assembly 20 may be moved upwardlyout of its ensheathed or secured relationship with the case 15, and thenthe flexibility of the carrier 18 permits the holder jaw 31 (oralternatively the keeper jaw 32) to be spread outwardly and away fromthe blade head 20. When the swivel pins 34, 35 have been removed fromtheir respective holes, the blade head 20 may be removed for cleaning,or changing blades. To reinsert the blade head 20 within the carrier 15,the swivel pins 34, 35 are reinserted in their respective holes, andbeing of different sizes, the proper orientation is achieved. Thereafterthe carrier 18 and the jaw assembly 30 is moved downwardly as shown inFIG. 6, and finally pushed home into position within the case 15 asshown in FIG. 7. In this position the cutter and shaver 10 is in thehair cutting position, the cutting portion shown on FIGS. 5 through 7inclusive being the trim and thin portion.

In the event the cutter and shaver 10 is to be used for shaving asillustrated in FIG. 2, the sequential FIGS. 8 through 11 inclusive showhow the blade head assembly 20 when extended to the position shown inFIG. 6 permits reversal of the edges of the blade 19 and, as shown inFIG. 11, the unit is readied for shaving, whereas FIG. 7 shows the sameready for cutting the hair.

As will be observed by comparing FIGS. 11 and 12, in the shavingconfiguration the orientation of the blade head assembly 20 is at anangle approximating 15 with the plane of the carrier 15. On the otherhand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the blade assembly 20 is in theconfiguration for hair trimming such as shown in front elevation in FIG.7, the axis of the blade is coincidental with the plane of the carrier,the angle of the face of the shape and blend teeth approximating 30 withthe plane of the carrier.

By reference to FIG. 13, the further coordinated relationship betweenthe angles involved will be observed. There it will be seen that theangle between thet blade 19 and the shape and blend tooth recess 58 is45". Thus for shaping and blending a 15 pocket is provided for thegrouping of the hairs to be presented to the edge of the blade 19.Furthermore, to reduce the possibility of overcut the distance betweenthe blade edge and face of the shape and blend teeth 42 is held toapproximately .020". If this blade edge-tooth face spacing is less than.015", the effect of the pocket in grouping strands of hair for shapingand blending is minimized. On the other hand, if the blade edge-toothface spacing is extended beyond .025", the cutting becomes more severeand the possibility of overcutting and gouging is increased.

The trim and thin teeth 41, however, have a trim and thin tooth recess59 which is substantially double the depth of the shape and blend recess58, and the angularity with the blade 19 approximates 45. The depth ofthe trim and thin teeth 41 approximates .125", this total dimensionbeing available for the trim and thin tooth recess 59. Thus when thehair is being styled with the trim and thin teeth 41 against the scalp,considerably more hair can be accommodated in the pockets definedbetween the trim and thin teeth 41, and the density of the hair strandpresented to the edge of the blade 19 is such that more rapid andcomplete cutting of the hair may be achieved than when the shape andblend teeth 42 are presented to the scalp and their related blade edgeto the hair. Critical to best operation is the distance of the bladeedge to the tooth face of the shape and blend teeth 42, and thepositioning of the blade edge shoulder 44 approximately midway betweenthe end of the trim and thin teeth 41 and the tooth pocket base 60defined by the terminus of the trim and thin tooth recess 59 and theshape and blend tooth recess 58.

It will also be observed that the distance between the edge of the blade19 (see FIG. 13) and the end of the end of the trim and thin teeth 41 isapproximately the same as the distance from the edge of the blade to thetooth pocket base 60. This distance optimizes at approximately .125.Furthermore, the thickness of the opposed plates which in turn definesthe depth of the shape and blend tooth recess 58 and the trim and thintooth recess 59 also optimizes at .125. This relatively squaredrelationship coupled with the angularity of the recesses and tooth edgesas above defined, and the critical limits of the blade edge to shape andblend tooth face between .015" and .025 produce a comb combination 40for hair cutting which accomplishes the four functions of trimming andthinning of the longer hair, and shaping and blending of the shorterhair to a professional-like appearance.

Referring now to FIG. 14, it will be seen that the razor edge forshaving is defined at one edge of the blade holder plate 21 and bladekeeper plate 22. The blade is curved as above defined to present abetter cutting edge for shaving, and also to prestressingly lock theblade between the two opposed plates 21, 22. The shaving portion isstraight and the cutting edge of the blade is bet-Ween the curved edgeof the holder plate and the angular edge of the keeper plate, whichangular edge extends beyond the curved edge.

The specific details of the H-shaped carrier 18 are shown in FIGS. 15and 16, and particularly in FIG. 16 it will be seen that the keeper jaw32 has a keeper jaw radiused face 61 and a keeper jaw flat face 64. Thecorresponding configuration exists on the holder jaw 31. As discussedabove, and particularly shown in FIG. 12, the flat face of the keeperjaw 32 aligns itself with the plane of the trim and thin teeth 41, andthe radiused face 61, 62 aligns itself approximately with the shape andblend teeth 42.

The details of the interior of the case 15 are shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.There it will be seen that the case 15 is hollow. Each of the opposededges 66, 68 has longitudinal parallel runners 70. The parallel runnersflankingly engage the cross-bar lock stop 50 and holder runner 55 andkeeper runner 56 to provide for smooth sliding operation of the carrierupwardly and downwardly within the case 15. Shown to the right of FIG.17 is a transverse sectional view of the case looking at the end 66showing the relationship of the parallel runners 70, and base rail 73.

It will be further observed that the case bottom 16 is proportioned witha snap-acting upper peripheral radius 71. A peripheral bead terminatesat a shouldered recess 72 therebeneath to snap-fittingly engage the baselock knobs 74 at the lower portion of the edges 66, 68 of the carrier15.

Referring now to FIG. 21, an alternative configuration of a carrier 75is disclosed. With the exception of the reversely bent legs 76, 77 thebalance of the structural elements are substantially the same as thoseshown in the preferred embodiment carrier 18. For convenience inreferencing the same, comparable reference numerals have been designatedto identify the upper legs 45, 46 and the runners 55, 56 as well as thestops 50. The alternative em bodiment carrier 75 has one advantage inthat it can be removed from the case 15 more easily by squeezing theentire leg assembly together and the cross-bar 48 being shorter than thecross-bar of the carrier 18, permits the same to be removed by pullingthe stops 50 beyond the carrier stop 51. Alternatively, however, thecarrier 18 is desirable as it prevents easy removal from the case,thereby eliminating a loose part which can be lost. Also the preferredcarrier 18 is of a more rugged construction inasmuch as it eliminatesthe reversely bent leg portions 76, 77 and substitutes a less criticalconstruction to provide the yieldability necessary for reversing theblade assembly 20.

In review it will be seen that the shaver cutter 10 has a blade head 20which is swivelable, selectively positionable, and removable. Thecarrier serves as a guide for the hand to hold the unit, and also torecessingly engage the carrier 18. The angularity and specificpositioning and proportioning of the teeth with reference to the bladeon the trim and thin faces and the shape and blend faces is such as toprovide a safe conservative approach to shape and blend at the hairline, and yet to trim and thin the longer hairs rapidly. The entiredevice is susceptible of molding from plastic and accordingly the costis low. Furthermore, the hand assembly operations are minimal and simplejigs and fixtures for press-fittin engagement will suffice to producethe product.

While the invention has been described in connection with specificembodiments and applications, it is not applicants intention to restricthimself thereto, but to include within the invention all of the subjectmatter defined by the spirit as well as the letter of the annexedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A blade head assembly for controlled cutting of the hair by trimmingand shaving, comprising, in combination,

a blade head having two opposite ends, a comb portion on one end, ashaving portion on the opposite end,

the blade head including a blade holder plate and a blade keeper platefor holding a razor blade therebetween,

blade bar means on one of said blade holder plate and blade keeper platefor stabilizing razor blade means in one plane,

the comb portion including teeth extending from one end of the bladekeeper plate and oppositely disposed teeth extending from one end of theblade holder plate, the teeth on said holder plate being longer than theteeth on said keeper plate,

means defining pockets between said teeth having a common base when thekeeper plate and holder plate are oppositely disposed,

razor blade means having cutting edges sandwiched between said platesand secured by said bar means,

one of said blade cutting edges being at a front to rear mid-positionbetween the holder plate teeth ends and said pocket bottoms, and

said shaving portion being uninterrupted transverse straight cuttingedges at one end of one of said keeper and holder plates and flankinganother one of said blade edges.

2. In the blade head assembly of claim 1,

said comb teeth presenting a fiat upward surface on the keeper plate andextension thereof on the holder plate.

3. In the blade head assembly of claim 1,

a relief notch running transversely beneath the blade means edge on saidkeeper plate shaving portion.

4. In the blade head assembly of c aim 1,

the shaving end being curved on the blade holder plate.

5. In the blade head assembly of claim 2,

a relief notch running transversely beneath the blade means edge on saidkeeper plate shaving portion.

7 8 6. In the blade head assembly of claim 5, 2,666,982 1/1954 Schrodera 3031 the shaving end being curved on the blade holder 3,183,589 5/1965Szabo 3030 plate and said blade bar means being on said blade holderplate. OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner References Cited 5 US Cl XR'UNITED STATES PATENTS 30 34 2,237,676 4/1941 Lewis 3030

